Iconic TV and film locations in Somerset to visit
Somerset might be famous for its rural countryside, cider, and Glastonbury Festival, but did you know it’s also been the backdrop for some major film and TV productions? From historical dramas to Hollywood blockbusters, this gorgeous county has played a starring role. So, if you fancy walking in the footsteps of your favourite actors, here are some of the most iconic film locations in Somerset you can visit.
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Visit Somerset’s movie magic in real life
The city of Wells
Hot Fuzz
Ah, Wells. The UK’s smallest city, complete with a stunning cathedral, medieval streets, and… crime-fighting action? Yep, if you’ve seen Hot Fuzz, you’ll know that Wells doubled as the fictional village of Sandford.
The Market Square, Swan Hotel (exterior), Bishop’s Palace, The Crown pub, City News Newsagent, Wells Recreation Ground, High Street, St Cuthbert’s Church, Wells Little Theatre, Chamberlain Street, Lover’s Walk, Barkham Street, Balch Road and Constitution Hill all feature in Simon Pegg and Nick Frost’s hilarious cop comedy. Grab a pint at The Crown and relive the film’s best one-liners. “Yarp?”
Hott Fuzz Film Location walking tours leave from The Crown in the Market Place – upcoming 2025 dates: 1 March, 5 April, 7 June 4 May at 2pm. The tour lasts approx. 1.5hrs and cost £10. Book ahead to avoid disappointment.
Poldark
Cornwall may steal the spotlight in this series, but many Poldark filming locations are actually scattered across the West Country. In series three, Wells makes two appearances: the Bishop’s Palace stood in for a French convent holding prisoners of war, while Wells Town Hall was transformed into Warleggan Bank.
Well’s Cathedral
The Huntsman: Winter’s War (2016)
Starring Charlize Theron and Chris Hemsworth, this dark fairy tale used the gothic grandeur of Wells Cathedral to enhance its drama. The cathedral’s mesmerising scissor arches and extensive medieval stained glass make it a must-visit location.
Alex Rider
Wells Cathedral also appeared in the Alex Rider films, bringing Anthony Horowitz’s novels to life on screen.
Jack the Giant Slayer
Wells Cathedral was also one of the stunning Somerset locations used in Jack the Giant Slayer (2013). The cathedral’s grand Gothic architecture, intricate stone carvings, and towering columns provided a dramatic medieval setting for the film. Its impressive interiors were transformed into part of the film’s royal castle.
Other recent productions filmed at Wells Cathedral include:
- The Three-Body Problem (2024)
- Dungeons & Dragons (2023)
- Dodger (2022)
- Becoming Elizabeth (2022)
- The Spanish Princess (2019)
- A Discovery of Witches (2018)
- Wolf Hall (2015)
- Doctor Who, ‘The Lazarus Experiment’ (2006)
Bishop’s Palace Wells
In addition to Hot Fuzz and Poldark, The Bishop’s Palace in Wells has served as a backdrop for several notable productions, including the BBC’s Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light (2024). The production transformed many rooms as wells as its landscaped gardens for scenes from the Tudor court.
Other recent productions filmed at Bishop’s Palace Wells include:
- The Spanish Princess
- The Huntsman: Winter’s War (2016)
- The White Princess.
Montacute House
If you love period dramas, The National Trust’s Montacute House will be right up your street. This stunning Elizabethan mansion has appeared in Wolf Hall, Sense and Sensibility (1995), as well as The Libertine.
Wolf Hall
The National Trust’s Montacute House featured in the first series of Wolf Hall and returns in the final series, The Mirror and the Light, as Greenwich Palace, Henry’s main London seat.
Montacute’s Great Hall, dining room, and parlour all feature in the series. The opening scene of The Mirror and the Light was filmed here, with Damian Lewis (as Henry VIII) standing in his privy chambers, framed by the impressive Tournai tapestry—a real historical treasure. The rooms were dimly lit during filming to preserve the delicate fabric fibres, adding to the authenticity of the Tudor atmosphere.
Sense and Sensibility
Montacute stood in as the country home of the Palmers, where Marianne got caught in the rain while trying to escape the heartbreak of Willoughby’s rejection. You can spot the famous ‘wibbly wobbly’ yew hedges (yes, that’s the technical term!) as she walks through the garden, and later on Colonel Brandon (played by Alan Rickman) pokes his head into the Orangery looking for her.
The Libertine
Starring Johnny Depp, The Libertine tells the dark and twisted autobiographical tale of the Second Earl of Rochester. Montacute House played the setting for Rochester’s home of Adderbury house.
Brean Down
Elizabeth: The Golden Age
North Somerset’s seven-mile stretch of sandy beach and dunes is bookended by one of the great natural landmarks of the Somerset coast, Brean Down. The impressive headland extends 1.5 miles into the Bristol Channel.
The 2007 historical epic Elizabeth: The Golden Age, starring Cate Blanchett as Queen Elizabeth I, portrays the monarch’s battle against the Spanish Armada. Brean Down serves as the backdrop for the Queen’s stirring speech to her troops, standing in for Tilbury in Essex.
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Sanditon
Sanditon is an unfinished novel by Jane Austen, set in a seaside resort town undergoing rapid development during the Regency era. The story follows Charlotte Heywood, a young woman who moves to Sanditon and becomes involved with the town’s quirky residents. The novel explores themes of social change, class, and romance, though Austen’s death left it incomplete, with many plotlines unresolved.
In series one of the ITV adaptation, Most of the beach scenes were filmed at Brean Beach and Brean Down.
For the scenes where the characters are actually swimming in the sea, the production team shifted location to neighbouring Weston-super-Mare’s Marine Lake.
Also look out for the village of Uphill, near Weston-super-Mare and Sand Point – another natural pier into the Bristol Channel on the North Somerset coast.
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Clevedon
Sanditon
ITV’s Jane Austen adaptation, Sanditon was inspired by the booming seaside resorts of the Regency era, but the coastal towns have changed so much that none quite fit the bill for the TV series’ backdrop. Instead, the Sanditon we see on-screen was created with the help of full-scale sets, CGI and North Somerset’s Clevedon. A replica of Sanditon’s street was built at the Bottle Yard Studios in Bristol, stretching 67 metres long and towering 10 metres high in the back lot.
Filming also took place at Clevedon Marine Lake, which is open to the public for swimming.
Broadchurch
The Broadchurch filming locations in Clevedon include several key spots. Clevedon Marine Lake, where the boat burning scene took place. Clevedon Pill and Marshall’s Field play a role in the series’ plot, with Marshall’s Field being a beloved local green space.
St Andrew’s Church, dating from the 12th century, served as Broadchurch’s parish church. Other notable sites include Salthouse Fields, Hill Road, and Seeley’s Food Market, which was transformed for filming but later became a permanent local market.
Never Let Me Go
Charming Victorian Clevedon Pier provided the setting for a heartwarming scene in Never Let Me Go (2011), starring Keira Knightley.
Cheddar Gorge
Somerset’s most famous natural landmark has had quite the acting career:
28 Years Later
In July 2024, acclaimed director Danny Boyle filmed scenes for his upcoming horror movie, 28 Years Later, at Cheddar Gorge in Somerset. This film marks the third instalment in Boyle’s series, following 28 Days Later ,and 28 Weeks Later. The new film will take place 28 years after the events of the 2002 film, which starred Cillian Murphy, Brendan Gleeson and Naomie Harris, and is scheduled for release on June 20, 2025.
Jack the Giant Slayer
This modern adaption of the classic Jack and the Beanstalk story offers a fun twist, with Jack opening a portal between the realm of giants and his own. The film stars Nicholas Hoult, Ewan McGregor, Eleanor Tomlinson, Stanley Tucci, Ian McShane, Bill Nighy, and Eddie Marsan. The giant’s lair/home is shot in the Cheddar Gorge.
Glastonbury Tor
The Kid Who Would Be King
Glastonbury Tor served as a filming location for The Kid Who Would Be King, directed by Joe Cornish and featuring Patrick Stewart in the cast. The Tor is one of those places that feels totally cinematic – climb to the top, take in the view, and you’ll see what I mean.
Forde Abbey
Wolf Hall
Filming at Forde Abbey for Wolf Hall took place from November 2023 to April 2024. The Great Hall served as King Henry VIII’s presence chamber, while the cloisters were used for scenes of him preparing for Jane Seymour. The kitchen garden and drawing room depicted Margaret Pole’s house, and the cloister corridor was also used in filming.
Far from the Madding Crowd
The privately-owned stately home, which is open to visitors, also served as a backdrop for Far from the Madding Crowd (2015), starring Carey Mulligan. The Great Hall appeared as the Corn Exchange, in the pivotal scene where Bathsheba first meets Mr Boldwood.
Forde Abbey’s other credits include:
Restoration
Forde Abbey was also used in the making of Restoration, a period film set in the court of Charles II starring Robert Downey Jnr, Meg Ryan, Sam Neil, Sir Ian McKellan and Hugh Grant.
Orchardleigh House
Rivals
500-Acre Orchardleigh Estate near Frome (which I recently reviewed for a wellness retreat!) features in Disney+’s excellent Rivals, based on Jilly Cooper’s novel. It stars an ensemble cast including David Tennant, Aidan Turner, Katherine Parkinson, Lisa McGrillis, Alex Hassell, Emily Atack and Danny Dyer.
Rivals isn’t the first well-known TV show to be captured at Orchardleigh, Tess of the D’Ubervilles, Into the Storm and Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple: 4:50 from Paddington were also filmed at the Somerset estate.
Wraxall
Rivals
Several Rivals scenes were filmed in Wraxall in Somerset, and Aidan Turner reportedly revealed that the Grade II-listed Battleaxes Pub was used for filming. The pub has actually been closed since 2020, but you can view it from the outside!
Cranmore Station, Shepton Mallet
Rivals
Cranmore Station, the primary railway station on the preserved East Somerset Railway, is the location where the underdog romance between Freddie and Lizzie (played by Danny Dyer and Katherine Parkinson) was filmed during their rail-side meeting.
Visitors can actually ride as passengers on East Somerset steam trains – click here to see their timetable.
Bath filming locations
Bridgerton
Bath is a key filming location for Bridgerton (Netflix), with its stunning Georgian architecture and picturesque streets providing the perfect backdrop for the series.
Below is a roundup of notable filming spots you can seek out.
- Or, for a more in-depth exploration, join a two-hour guided walking tour of Bridgerton filming locations around Bath (plus behind-the-scenes goss!)
- Alternatively, see Bridgerton filming locations with music! This immersive walking tour around Bath, uses headphones to showcase the music and sounds used in the series.
Royal Crescent, Bath
This iconic Bath landmark it’s hard to miss in Bridgerton! The Royal Crescent, built between 1767 and 1775, is a perfect curve of 30 Grade I listed terraced houses, all overlooking a gorgeous lawn and Royal Victoria Park.
No.1 Royal Crescent – The exterior of museum is used as the home of the Featherington family. Visitors to the museum can discover historic furniture and objects that reveal what life was like for Bath’s fashionable Georgian residents, both upstairs and downstairs.
Bath Assembly Rooms
Bridgerton is all about lavish balls and high-society events, where characters mingle under the watchful eye of ‘The Ton.’ The Tea Room and Ball Room (the largest 18th-century room in the city) at Bath Assembly Rooms made the perfect, grand setting for those stunning ball scenes.
Abbey Green
Tucked behind the Roman Baths, Abbey Green is home to The Abbey Deli, which doubles as the Modiste dress shop in the first two seasons of Bridgerton. Filming took place both inside and outside the Grade II-listed building. Today, you can tuck into afternoon tea at the Deli and browse a variety of Modiste merch including teas, T-shirts, and more.
Another part of Abbey Green was also used to stand in for Covent Garden in London in the series.
Bath Street
With its charming cobblestones and those impressive colonnades running down each side, this street is featured in several Bridgerton scenes. Without any modern shop signs, the street has a perfect 18th-century vibe that makes it such a great spot for filming.
Beauford Square is another charming spot used for filming in Bridgerton. These two-storey cottages were built back in 1730 by John Strahan, and the south side even has the original frontage of the Theatre Royal Bath.
And just around the corner on Trim Street, you’ll spot a bathroom showroom—yep, you heard that right! The exterior and interior (don’t worry, no taps or toilets on display!) also made it into the series.
The Banqueting Room at the Guildhall served as a stunning backdrop for the ball scenes in Bridgerton.
The Holburne Museum
Bath’s Holburne Museum plays the façade of Lady Danbury’s opulent abode in Bridgerton. The Grade I listed building is home to a permanent collection of decorative and fine art.
Edward Street made its first appearance in Bridgerton during season three. This picture-perfect Georgian street is just a stone’s throw from The Holburne Museum. To make it feel even more authentic, the production team covered the road with gravel.
A lot of the action took place right outside the boutique Dukes Hotel, so, if you’re planning a Bridgerton-inspired stay in Bath, this is definitely a spot to consider.
Les Misérables
The iconic scene in the musical drama had to have an equally breath-taking location for Inspector Javert’s (Russell Crowe) dramatic suicide in Les Misérables (2012). Bath’s Pulteney Bridge served as the replacement for the River Seine.
The Duchess & Vanity Fair
Also set in Austen’s Georgian world, 2008’s The Duchess, starring Keira Knightley, features the grand Bath Assembly Rooms and the Royal Crescent, as does 2004’s Vanity Fair, in which Reese Witherspoon plays the cynical yet complex social climber, Becky Sharp.
Sherlock
Cobbled Queen Street stood in for Victorian England in a special episode of the BBC’s Sherlock, starring Benedict Cumberbatch.
The Trial of Christine Keeler
In the 2019 BBC One series about the ‘Profumo affair’ – rooms in Bath’s Guildhall were used to film the Old Bailey scenes, and Abbey Green was used for scenes set in Notting Hill.
The Pursuit of Love
The 2021 adaptation of Nancy Mitford’s 1945 romcom The Pursuit of Love brought a touch of glamour to Bath when filming took place in September 2020. Airing on BBC One, the series stars Lily James as the spirited Linda Radlett, alongside Dominic West, Emily Beecham, Andrew Scott, and more.
The terraced streets around Green Park Railway Station were used as a production location in Bath, as well as No.1 Royal Crescent Museum – which was Linda’s Marylebone house in Bryanston Square. Avon Valley Railway and Stourhead were also film locations.
McDonald & Dodds
Look out for Bath in both series of ITV drama McDonald & Dodds too, about an unlikely detective duo starring Jason Watkins and Tala Gouveia.
Fantastic Mr Fox
The Little Theatre building that is seen in Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009), is actually a real location in Bath.
Quantock Hills
Pandaemonium (2001) – This film, about two of the most famous people to be associated with Somerset: the 19th century poets, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth, showcases Somerset’s stunning Quantock and Exmoor landscapes.
Weston-super-Mare
The Remains of the Day (1993)
Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson filmed a poignant scene at The Grand Pier, before it was lost to a fire. The pier has since been rebuilt and is a popular local attraction to this day.
The Outlaws
The seaside town of Weston-super-Mare was used as a filming location for Stephen Merchant’s fantastic BBC show, The Outlaws. The beachfront kiosk was featured in the show, and was extensively renovated for season three.
Eagle-eyed viewers can also spot The Grand Atlantic Hotel, Grand Pier and the beach (which features prominently in the final scene!).
Stourhead
The Pursuit of Love
Despite this National Trust garden’s fame, Stourhead House has rarely appeared on screen. The estate’s Palladian house became a chic Parisian apartment in The Pursuit of Love, starring Lily James.
Glastonbury Festival
A Star is Born
Bradley Cooper shot footage for A Star Is Born at Glastonbury Festival in 2017, making it a genuine part of the movie. Scenes for A Star Is Born were filmed at The Pyramid Stage and Cooper performed for several minutes before introducing Kris Kristofferson.
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
Kingsman: The Golden Circle includes a controversial scene at Somerset’s Glastonbury Festival. Actor Taron Egerton revealed that a scene in which his character inserts a tracking device into a lady’s private parts got people talking…
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Coates English Willow
Wicked
Not all film connections come from grand stately homes or dramatic landscapes – sometimes, it’s the little details that make a movie magic! Coates English Willow, based in South Somerset, crafted the iconic wicker basket that appears in recent Wicked movie.
Starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, it’s amazing to think a piece of Somerset craftsmanship flys high with Elphaba and Glinda! If you visit Coates, you can see the traditional basket-weaving techniques in action.
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